Device for centering continuously moving fabric



g- 27, 1968 J. RJZELDIN 3,398,869

DEVICE FOR CENTERING CONTINUOUSLY MOVING FABRIC Filed Dec. 13, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 27, 1968 J. R. ZELDIN 3,398,869

DEVICE FOR CENTERING CONTINUOUSLY MOVING FABRIC Filed Dec. 13, 1966 s Sheets-Sheet z 27, 1968 J. R. ZELDIN 3,398,869

DEVICE FOR CENTERING CONTINUOUSLY MOVING FABRIC Filed Dec. 13, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet :5

United States Patent "ice 3,398,869 DEVICE FOR CENTERING CONTINUOUSLY MOVING FABRIC July Rafailovich Zeldin, ulitsa Voikova 21, kv. 57, Ivanovo, U.S.S.R. Filed Dec. 13, 1966, Ser. No. 601,370 2 Claims. (Cl. 226-23) The invention relates to finishing machines used in the textile industry and, more specifically, to devices for centering moving fabric, said devices being intended for installation in these machines.

There are known devices for centering continuously moving fabric, comprising several centering rollers running in ball bearings fastened in a turning frame having a pneumatic drive.

In these devices the pneumatic drive consists of two air cylinders (the right hand and the left hand ones) and two pick-up feelers contacting the edges of the fabric and connected to control valves controlling the operation of the air cylinders.

As a rule, these devices insure effective centering of the moving fabric when the latter has a well-defined edge, however, they are unsuitable for centering the fabric having no edge, or for centering nonwoven fabric. Moreover, these devices can not be used when the friction of the feelers or other elements of the structure against the surface of the fabric is inadmissible (for example, in the course of some other kinds of wet treatment and wet-hot treatment), as this friction causes treatment defects (such as stripes, traces of rubbing, etc.).

An object of the invention is to develop a device insuring reliable centering of fabric while applying minimum mechanical force to the moving fabric.

A further object of the invention is to develop a device suitable for employment in the course of wet and wet-hot treatment of the fabric (for example, in steaming chambers).

An important object of the invention is to develop a device which, being used in the course of wet and wet-hot treatment of the fabric, would permit of increasing the initial charging length of the fabric, thus contributing to a higher efficiency of the equipment.

Still further object of the invention is to develop a device, the employment of which in the machines for wethot treatment of fabric does not necessitate high-precision manufacture of the parts of these machines.

These and other objects are achieved by the development of a device for centering moving fabric, said device comprising centering rollers installed on a turning frame having a drive, the latter being operated on receiving a signal from a pick-up, whereas said pick-up, according to the invention, consists of at least one roller contacting the fabric along its entire width, and of a booster, said roller being installed on a turning support, whose axis is arranged in one and the same plane with the turning axis of the frame carrying the centering rollers, while said booster is connected to said support and actuates the drive of the turning frame.

If the drive of the turning frame is made pneumatic, it is expedient to use an air pressure regulator as a booster.

An embodiment of the invention is described hereinbelow by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a centering device according to the invention (cross-section);

FIGURE 2-ditto (front view); and

FIGURE 3 shows the booster of a pneumatic drive, in accordance with the invention.

The device for centering continuously moving fabric 3,398,869 Patented Aug. 27, 1968 utilizing the present invention, consists of a roller 1 (FIGS. 1 and 2) contacting the fabric and centering rollers 2 with a pneumatic drive 3.

Roller 2 runs in ball bearings fastened to the ends of a turning support 4. An axle 5 in relation to which support 4 is turnable is located in the central plane of the working zone of the machine.

Axle 5 carries a lever 6 (FIG. 2), one of whose ends is connected to a spring 7, and the opposite end to an air pressure regulator 8 serving as a booster.

A number of centering rollers (three rollers 2 are shown in the drawing) are installed on a common frame 9 (FIG. 1), said rollers running freely in the bearings. Frame 9 is installed on axles 10 also placed in the central plane of the working zone of the machine. Fastened to one of axles 10 is a lever 11 hinged to a lever 12 fastened to a rod 13.

One end of rod 13 is connected to a rod 14 (FIG. 2) of the diaphragm-type pneumatic drive 3, while the opposite end rests against a spring 15.

Air pressure regulator 8 communicates with the working space of pneumatic drive 3 via a brass or rubber pipe 16.

Pneumatic drive 3 consists of a casing 17 and a cover 18, with a diaphragm 19 secured between them, said diaphragm being made of elastic material, for example, rubber. Rod 14 protruding from the pneumatic drive is connected to rod 13 by means of a threaded bushing 20 fastened to rod 13 and rod 14 by locking nuts 21. In a similar way rod 13 is connected to a rest 22 which interacts with spring 15.

Air pressure regulator 8 (FIG. 3) consists of a casing 23 with diaphragms 24 and 25 secured in position by means of covers 24 and 25. Diaphragm 26 carries a metal head 28 which supports a rod 29 connected by means of an axle 30 to lever 6. Rod 29 is threaded to screw-0n nuts 31 which compress a spring 32.

Compressed air is forced through a pipe union 33 into the working space of regulator 8 in the direction indicated by arrow A of FIG. 3. The outlet chamber of the work ing space of regulator 8 communicates with pipe 16.

The device of the invention functions as follows.

Prior to operation, the pneumatic system of the device is set in such a way that in case of the normal movement of the fabric over the working parts of the machine (i.e., without side displacement in relation to the central axis of the machine) said device would not cause any additional displacement of the fabric. This setting is achieved in the course of forcing compressed air into pipe union 33 by varying the degree of compression of springs 7 and 32, and the position of rod 13. If the pneumatic system is adjusted correctly, rollers 1 and 2 take a horizontal position when there is no fabric in the machine.

When the machine is in operation fabric 34 (FIGS. 1 and 2) passes between centering rollers 2 and, having run around roller 1, moves on for further treatment.

If the fabric is arranged strictly along the central line of the machine, the resultant of all the forces tensioning the fabric on roller 1 is directed also along the central line of the machine, therefore frame 9 carrying centering rollers 2 does not turn.

If the fabric is displaced to either side, the resultant of this tension force on roller 1 no longer coincides with axis 5 of turning support 4, owing to which a torque is generated aiming at turning support 4.

The torque involves a variation of the force at lever 6 and rod 29 of air pressure regulator 8, resulting in the variation of the air pressure at the regulator outlet. The variation of the air pressure transmitted through pipe 16 into the working space of pneumatic drive 3 causes the displacement of rod 13 which, by means of its lever 12,

turns frame 9 carrying centering rollers 2 in the required direction, owing to which the fabric is returned to the normal position.

The device described above can be employed for centering smoothed-out fabric, nonwoven fabircs, paper, cellophane and like materials.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for centering continuously moving fabric, mainly in finishing machines used in the textile industry, said device comprising: centering rollers intended for the fabric to run on them and installed on a turning frame; a drive for said turning frame; at least one roller contacting the fabric along its entire width and mounted on a turning support, the turning axis of said support being arranged in one and the same plane with the turning axis of said frame carrying the centering rollers; and said drive including a booster connected to said support and actuating said turning frame.

2. The substance of claim 1, wherein the drive of the turning frame is of a pneumatic type, and the booster 5 comprises an air pressure regulator.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner.

15 I P. MULLINS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR CENTERING CONTINUOUSLY MOVING FABRIC, MAINLY IN FINISHING MACHINES USED IN THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING: CENTERING ROLLERS INTENDED FOR THE FABRIC TO RUN ON THEM AND INSTALLED ON A TURNING FRAME; A DRIVE FOR SAID TURNING FRAME; AT LEAST ONE ROLLER CONTACTING THE FABRIC ALONG ITS ENTIRE WIDTH AND MOUNTED ON A TURNING SUPPORT, THE TURNING AXIS OF SAID SUPPORT BEING ARRANGED IN ONE AND THE SAME PLANE WITH THE TURNING AXIS OF SAID FRAME CARRYING THE CENTERING ROLLERS; AND SAID DRIVE INCLUDING A BOOSTER CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPORT AND ACTUATING SAID TURNING FRAME. 